Shaurya had joined a mailing list for breast cancer patients. So that he could get educated as to how to help Anokhi the best. He received a mail which talked about a patients experience when she was hugged. Shaurya could now understand. He could understand why Anokhi was almost teary eyed when the family was hugging her. She was in pain. She could withdraw from his hug in the car but she could not withdraw from their hugs. Shaurya walked inside with a little bit more understanding only to find Devi hugging Anokhi.
Shaurya- Yeh kya kar rhi hai aap?
Aap usse hurt kar rhi hai.
Devi- Mein? Maine?
Shaurya- She has breast cancer for god's sake. You are just crushing her in your hug. All evening she was trying to not say anything because she didn't want to hurt you and in the car she didn't want to hurt me.
Anokhi- Shaurya yeh baat tum pyaar se bhi samjha sakte the. Guilty mat feel karo Shaurya. You didn't know because I didn't tell you or the others. That was my choice.
Shaurya- Let me say it loud and clear a wrong one.
Anokhi- A wrong one but my choice. Badi maa ki koi galti nhi thi. You should not have talked like this. Chalo mafi mango warna room se bahar kar dungi.
Shaurya- Badi maa. I am sorry. Mein bas bohot.....
Devi- Protective ho. Aur naaz hai ki uske liye tum itni fikar karte ho. Beta mujhe pata nhi tha.
Anokhi- Koi baat nhi.
Devi- Aage se dhyaan rakhungi. I am sorry beta. I am sorry.
Devi gets teary eyed.
Anokhi wipes her tears.
Anokhi- Badi maa aap mat rona. Aap ghabraiye mat mein Shaurya ko kamre se bahar fikwa dungi. Jhadu bhi ussi se karwaungi.
Shaurya- Hey! Yeh sab kya bol rhi ho. Mein nhi jaunga ek pal ke liye bhi tumse door. Tumse chipka rahunga. I mean door se. Badi maa aap please atleast mere liye rona band karo. Warna aapki beti meri band baja degi.
Devi gives a laugh.
Devi- Kuch chahiye ho toh bata dena.
Anokhi- Ji.
Shaurya and Anokhi walk to their room.
Shaurya- Anokhi are your hurting now? Should I call the doctor for pain meds?
Anokhi- I. I am ok. Just don't switch off the alarm tomorrow morning. I need to go to take class.
Shaurya- Ok. And If I hurt you in my sleep let me know. Ok? Or should I go on the couch.
Anokhi- I want you close. Please.
Shaurya- Ok but tell me if I accidentally touch you in a hurtful way.
Anokhi- Hmmm. Goodnight.
Shaurya- Goodnight.
They kept tossing and turning in beds until sleep got the better off them. Next day morning Shaurya opened his eyes and stared at his Anokhi. Just as Anokhi was going to open her eyes he turned away to hide his tears. Anokhi too looked at Shaurya's back. She moved closer to him. She turned against him so that their backs would touch. She felt comfort in that touch.
Anokhi- Shaurya I know tum uth chuke ho. But panch minute aise reh sakte hai?
Shaurya- Hmmm.
They lay in silence with their backs touching each other. Then both seemed to come out of that moment together.
Shaurya- Tum freshen up ho jao fir mein.
Anokhi- How about sath mein?
Shaurya- Hmmm. Sath mein.
They both went to shower in together. They had a moment of eye lock.
Shaurya- Anokhi can you be honest? How are you feeling? I need to know.
Anokhi- I don't know. Mujhe kuch samjh nhi aa rha. Iss baare mein soch bhi nhi paa rhi.
Shaurya- Is it paining?
Anokhi- Thodasa.
Shaurya- Ok. Pehle medicines lenge doctor se baat karke fir college.
Back to the present:-
Anokhi- Tum apne dream project se back out kar gye. I can't forgive myself for that.
Shaurya- Tum abhi bhi uss baat ko lekar baithi ho.
Anokhi- Kaise naa baithun. Woh sabka sapna tha. Tumhara, bade papa, papa, alok chachu ka.
Shaurya- Anokhi koi bhi sapna family se badhkar nhi hai. Koi iss baare mein nhi sochta. Uss din jis din mein baat karne gya tha......
I know everyone hates this short story. But I need to complete it for those who started to read it. So I will just upload the whole thing soon. Thanks for bearing with me......
